Cabinet

1)     Noted the update on the Dedicated Schools Grant Funding for 2025-26 in section 1

2)     Approved the topslicing of £0.430m from the Schools Block for Growth and Falling Rolls as set out in paragraph 2.4

3)     Approved the transfer of £1.290m from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block as set out in paragraph 2.5

4)     Approved the use of the national funding factors, a Minimum Funding Guarantee of 0% and capping of 0.85% in the Havering Local Schools Funding Formula

5)     Noted the increase in the Early Years Block as a result of the expansion of funded childcare for younger children as set out in section 3

6)     Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Education to approve the rate(s) per hour of childcare in line with approach outlined in section 3 after consultation with providers and schools forum

7)     Noted that there are a number of Havering Maintained Schools that are in overall deficit position and that these schools are required to draw up and implement plans to recover this position as set out in section 5

8)     Noted the update on the projected deficit on the High Needs Block and the Delivering Better Value Programme as set out in sections 6 and 7

9)     Approved an increase in the funding of Special Units in mainstream schools to £30,000 per place from September 2024 as set out in section 8

10)Approved an increase in the base hourly rate of top up payments for additional support in mainstream schools to £19 an hour from September 2024 as set out in section 9

Report: Schools and Education Funding

Presented by: Councillor Oscar Ford, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People

Summary:

This report provides an overview of the current status of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Budget and Havering maintained schools.  It sets out some of the current issues in Education funding - in particular the High Needs Block which is under severe financial pressure and also the number of schools that are in deficit and the ways the Council is seeking to mitigate and reduce these problems including participation in the Delivering Better Value (DBV) programme run by the Department for Education (DfE). 

It also proposes a review of current funding mechanisms and the rates paid for certain kinds of support. This is in response to calls from schools and other stakeholders that the funding mechanism provide greater flexibility and transparency for schools in meeting pupil needs, and may likewise have the potential to more accurately matching resources to pupil needs.

Cabinet

1)     Noted the update on the Dedicated Schools Grant Funding for 2025-26 in section 1

2)     Approved the topslicing of £0.430m from the Schools Block for Growth and Falling Rolls as set out in paragraph 2.4

3)     Approved the transfer of £1.290m from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block as set out in paragraph 2.5

4)     Approved the use of the national funding factors, a Minimum Funding Guarantee of 0% and capping of 0.85% in the Havering Local Schools Funding Formula

5)     Noted the increase in the Early Years Block as a result of the expansion of funded childcare for younger children as set out in section 3

6)     Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Education to approve the rate(s) per hour of childcare in line with approach outlined in section 3 after consultation with providers and schools forum

7)     Noted that there are a number of Havering Maintained Schools that are in overall deficit position and that these schools are required to draw up and implement plans to recover this position as set out in section 5

8)     Noted the update on the projected deficit on the High Needs Block and the Delivering Better Value Programme as set out in sections 6 and 7

9)     Approved an increase in the funding of Special Units in mainstream schools to £30,000 per place from September 2024 as set out in section 8

10) Approved an increase in the base hourly rate of top up payments for additional support in mainstream schools to £19 an hour from September 2024 as set out in section 9